"Bruno Fernandes and William Saliba Lead the Pack as Top Transfer Targets for Gameweek 29"

DREAM TEAM managers have until 6:30pm on Friday to confirm their transfers for Gameweek 29.

Crystal Palace and Wolves will not be in action this weekend but every other team has one fixture to fulfil with Sunday’s Carabao Cup final between Arsenal and Manchester City being the main event.

Assist record in his sightsCredit: Shutterstock Editorial

Bruno Fernandes (£6.5m)

Manchester United’s captain should always be considered among the strongest options when he’s not on the wrong side of a fixture deficit.

Fernandes is particularly prominent right now as the most in-form player in the game having banked 36 points across his last three outings via one goal and four assists.

The Portuguese playmaker averages 7.8 points-per-game this season, a rate unmatched among midfielders to have made at least five appearances.

The Red Devils will face Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium on Friday night, a middling fixture at best but Michael Carrick’s side are slight favourites as the top flight’s most in-form team over the last ten games.

It’s important to note that Man United are one of many teams without a fixture in Gameweek 30 having already been eliminated from the FA Cup.

Gaffers who recruit Fernandes this week will therefore have to replace him during the international break or settle for a zero-pointer but some players are worth the hassle of a one-week punt.

William Saliba (£4.3m)

Saliba is likely to be up against Haaland again at WembleyCredit: Getty

Bringing in a defender about to face Man City may seem fraught with danger but there’s method to our madness.

Smart Dream Team bosses will already be preparing for Gameweeks 30 and 31 when the Gunners will fulfil four fixtures while many other teams will play just once.

Mikel Arteta is likely to rotate against Southampton in the FA Cup but Saliba is a lock for the two Champions League quarter-final legs against Sporting CP and Bournemouth’s visit league to the Emirates (barring availability issues).

The Frenchman pocketed 15 points in Gameweek 28 as he took his clean sheet tally for the campaign to 18.

With Jurrien Timber (£3.9m) currently an injury doubt, Gabriel (£4.9m) is clearly the top priority but it feels like a good time to double up (or triple up) on the league leaders’ defensive assets and Saliba’s ownership of 10.8% suddenly looks rather low.

Mohamed Salah (£6.4m)

Vintage SalahCredit: Getty

Arsenal aren’t the only team with four fixtures across the two Gameweeks that immediately follow the international break.

Liverpool’s emphatic victory over Galatasaray has added home and away Champions League quarter-final meetings with PSG to their calendar.

Dominik Szoboszlai (£5.3m) and Hugo Ekitike (£4.7m) are excellent options but both are among the most selected players in the game at present.

Whereas Salah is a potential difference-maker.

The Egyptian legend has looked a shadow of his former self for much of the season but he produced his best performance in a long while against the Turkish giants on Wednesday night to notch 19 points despite his penalty miss — he registered a goal, two assists and SIX shots on target!

However, this suggestion comes with a warning as the 33-year-old appeared to tweak his groin midway through the second half, prompting a substitution.

Arne Slot is usually open about player availability and so gaffers should expect an update prior to Friday’s deadline.

If Salah isn’t fit to face Brighton at the Amex on Saturday then this transfer could be delayed until the Gameweek 30 deadline in early April, depending on the severity of his injury.

Jarrod Bowen (£5.4m) or Dominic Calvert Lewin (£3m)

A tempting differentialCredit: PA

Another viable strategy is to get ahead of the FA Cup quarter-final between West Ham and Leeds in Gameweek 30 by bringing in one of the two sides’ forwards.

The stats indicate Bowen is the superior option as he has 216 points to Calvert-Lewin’s 142 but gaffers may prefer to target the Whites’ home against Brentford instead of the Hammers’ trip to Aston Villa in Gameweek 29.

That being said, Unai Emery’s side have been in awful form of late and may be sluggish after the second leg of their Europa League last 16 tie (taking place later today).

West Ham’s talisman has returned 39 points from his last four outings via two goals and three assists.

This would likely be nothing more than a short-term punt but West Ham v Leeds might be a valuable fixture after the break given the majority of teams will blank.

Bowen currently features in 4.3% of teams while DCL has an ownership of just 1.4%.